What have you done to your 5th Gen 4Runner today?

I think I was on the wait list 9months or so. I know they are a very small business... (Similar to my vinyl one)

 

Serviced the sticking parking brake in the RH rear corner. What a pain in the ass! The cup washers holding the shoes to the backing plate need to be accessed through a little hole in the hub flange, about as easy as laparoscopic surgery... Had to do the job twice because the Bosch shoes were oversized, and would't fit inside the rotor hat



The rest of the corner brake job went smoothly. I went with Bosch BC606 ceramic pads in a new Raybestos FRC10463N caliper on a Raybestos 980780PER slotted rotor. Replaced the brake hose, too, because rust. Sunsong 2204834 hose and Carlson H95042 banjo bolt
Took it for a test drive. No more dragging caliper. Parking brake now works as it should with original OEM shoes freshly lubricated and adjusted.

 

Installed A-pillar grab handle. It seems more sturdy than the factory one on the passenger side!

 

I really wish they came with these. Convenient for short folks … meaning my wife, … ahem

 

I thought they were tongue depressors!

 

Will this fit on a 2020 4runner? If so, where can I order this item? Thanks,

 

Yes! You'll need to order an OEM grab handle and a couple of plastic bolt covers from a dealership or online seller. Then you can email Jason Garza (jasontamu2002@gmail.com) to order the steel bracket and instructions you'll need to install the handle. I'd rate the difficulty level as intermediate for the install.

 

To piggy back on Connors post this is the right answer. Get Jasons kit over KTJOs. Jasons actually bolts into the vehicle and it the most secure way to have it. KJTOs just uses plastic rivets to hold it together. Plus I will never trust her with how she started out. Check out Tacomaworld for that saga though.

 

There's lots more detail here about the handle parts and install procedure:

 

Yeah I had a KTJO grab handle from there as well on my Tacoma. Absolutely great concept. Execution and customer support are questionable at best.

But in fairness, I did buy her door bowl lights for my 4R (and Taco when I had it). And it's a great product. Comes from China obviously, but they work. It's more aesthetic than having an actual purpose. But if you have super dark tinted windows or vision isn't so great at night, it can make seeing the door handles a lot easier. It's always a gamble with aftermarket products.

(But in full disclosure: my windows aren't super dark tinted like they were on my Taco. But when my mom rides in my 4R, she has a hard time seeing the door handle. So the lights, for me anyways, serve a purpose.)


Edit: I'm not sure if she truly has been issued BBB "badge," but this is at the bottom of her website. Found that rather curious.

 

Thank you for the info. Would I have to modify the stock driver side pillar cover or does he also makes the pillar cover for the grab handle? My FJ came with grab handle on both side. It came handy when getting in.

 

Yes - you have to drill a 1-inch diameter hole in the cover trim piece to put the attachment bolt through the lower hole in the grab handle.

 

Just more research today. Ordered the glove box divider and a console tray friday (they should be waiting for me at home).

I *think* I saw a truck carrying 3 Tundras and a black 4Runner heading up the highway about an hour ago...could have been mine. Guess I'll know tomorrow if I get a call...

 

Removed the faded mud guards this weekend and added the RevTek Mud Guard Delete pieces on the rear.

 

Man, I live 10 minutes from there, never knew they had bomb Pastrami! Will have to hit it this week.

 

In regards to the grab handle... Is/was there ever a RHD 4Runner version sold overseas in other markets? Meaning is there an actual OEM A-pillar with the necessary hardware that would allow for cleaner grab handle conversion? Verses having to drill or have a mismatched handle.

 

Installed these low profile AVS visors and a Pedal Commander. Chose to mount it on the left side instead of the right because it felt a bit cramped on the right, and I tightened up the cable management after I snapped the picture.

All in all I’m super happy with how it all turned out!

 

Extra mustard, extra pickle, single dip (one side). Chili fries are good but not as good as Tommy's. Did my thesis for grad school on "urban" bears in Monrovia/Duarte. Used to get breakfast while radio-tracking my bears two cheeseburgers and one chili fry unless my "four-legged research assistant" was with me, then it was one fry, four burgers (2 plain with chili on the side).

 

LED license plate lights from 4runnerlifestyle….I bought em, they came today and she took them from me and put them on herself

 

So I know some of y'all gonna get a chuckle outta of this, but what I did was get a steering wheel cover put on.

Just hear me out on this:

I've had this cover for about 2 weeks, and have been fighting to get it installed. It's a cheapy one from Autozone. It was on clearance for $10. I had one of these EXACT ones on my Tacoma steering wheel (it was blue vs. red). And I had no issues with it when I put it on with my Taco. My thought process was, "This should go on real easily." Same size steering wheel. Nothing different.

Nah. It's been a pain in the @$$.

I went back to Autozone today to see if they had a similar one in stock, and they did (even had a blue one). But there were no measurements. I was talking to one of the associates if they had any measurements on it. He said "no." Finding some online was a royal pain in the rump. But he said something that gave me an idea. He said he's used a crowbar in the past to help get covers on his steering wheel. Not sure how true that really was, but it gave me an idea.

But instead of a crowbar, I used zip ties. The ties kept it in place, and I was FINALLY able to get this SOB on.

So when there is a redneck will, there is a redneck way.

 

Not the 5th gen. At least not in Japan. The last Hilux Surf Japan got was the 4th gen. I think the rest of the world went to the Land Cruiser Prado while we got the 5th gen.

 

I've been trying to find/create a magsafe mount/charger that was super clean (no wires showing) and out of the way but not hidden in the center console. I have a 9" Pioneer floating screen head unit with carplay so there is no reason to have the phone up high. Finally found a person on Etsy selling a 3D printed under desk magsafe mount https://www.etsy.com/listing/1179450941/magsafe-desk-mount-works-with-iphone . I just mounted the mount upside down with some 3M double sided foam tap, the angle of the dash is perfect and makes the phone is flush with the dash. The magsafe charger cable is just wound up and secured with a zip tie and the usb-c end is plugged into a right angle usb-c adapter into the cigarette lighter adapter.

 

bang bang.. LFG!!

 

Added the Diode Dynamics hitchpod

 

The day, date and time were not correct. It is set by gps, and is not user adjustable because of this. I replaced the gps that came with it with Maestro SAT-TO2 cable which allows use of the factory gps. This resolved that issue. While the unit was out made an adjustment to move the screen out away from the dash. Remove 4 screws and the mount for the screen moves out 20mm. This allowed me to put the trim piece in place that covers the screen mount.

 

Tires rotated.

 

here’s a couple pictures for you

 

So I'm gonna address this very easily:

1) As far as being a woman owned business, that's immaterial to me. If it's owned by the Bride of Frankenstein, and she's selling something I think I want/need for my vehicle, I'm gonna buy from her. As evident that I bought another set of door bowl lights from her.

2) Everyone's user experience has been different. When I ordered my grab handle from her, it came in. And packaging was slightly damaged after being in transit for almost a month (not something she or the company can control). But when I had questions about the grab handle, I called SEVERAL time. Every time it went to a voicemail. Left several messages. Never got a call back. I emailed. Three times. Never got a response.

That might be different now that she has more staff.

As far as all their products working or not, again, each user's experience and knowledge varies. But so far, my door bowl lights have worked without any issues.

 

Oil change with new filter.

 

my wife’s Elantra has a compass showing the current elevation.

i know we have a (crappy) compass as well on the 4R. I couldn’t find anywhere how to display current elevation. Is that not an option anywhere?

if not, anyone knows an app that can display the elevation on CarPlay? I know I can use my phone to see it but I’d rather access it through the 4R screen if possible